DOUBLE THE LAUGHS:`THE TWO POPES’ SEQUEL REVIEW

The movie, ‘The Two Popes’ was released on November 29th 2019, directed by Fernando Meirelle, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. The Two Popes on Netflix received high praise and was nominated for  various awards.Based on true events, and as the name suggests, it's about the friendship of two popes, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis (the future pope). 

PLOT:

Coming to The Two Popes' review, the story revolves around Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio who wanted to resign as archbishop because his beliefs about traditions were different and he believed that the change was necessary. While Benedict wasn't ready to accept his resignation as he wanted Bergoglio to be his successor.

But Bergoglio rejected Benedict's idea as he thought his reputation was at stake as he was removed from his position as the head of the Argentinian Society of Jesus. He was exiled to serve as an ordinary parish priest to the poor for the next ten years. As Benedict tried to convince Bergoglio to reconsider his resignation, he also confided his intentions of abdicating his position. Later, Pope Bergoglio was elected as his successor and became Pope Francis.

FILM LOCATION:

This movie was filmed at a refugee camp in Rome and the Sistine Chapel interior was recreated at the Cinecitta studios in Rome. Some scenes were also shot at the Royal Palace of Caserta near Rome. 

Also, computer-generated imagery was used to recreate St.Peter's Square Plaza. A realistic look for the artwork was produced by a company that made stick-on tattoos for Roman walls and ceilings. 

THE GOOD: 

 The exceptional characters played by Jonathan Pryce as Bergoglio and Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict were outstanding. The dialogue delivery was perfect, exactly matching the emotions of both the popes. A light hint of humour where necessary played a significant role in engaging the audience. 

All the settings and locations were perfect and gave a very realistic look of the whole Vatican City and Rome, as though the whole story took place in the same place. 

The Bad:

An uncomplicated hope that ends the movie, may be a cause of anger amongst the modern catholics. While acknowledging the ongoing scandals, Pope Francis was embraced as a reformer. 

Moreover, despite being full of drama and humour, a lot of people might feel the movie is slow and boring. It also gives out a serious vibe because of its religious aspect. So a lot of people might be uninterested until they try to watch.

Ratings: 

The Two Popes had a score of 75% on Metacritic, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 7.6 out of 10 on IMDB.  These ratings were quite reasonable based on how touching and realistically the actors portrayed their respective characters despite the film being fictional.

My Opinion: 

This film is a fascinating and entertaining double act between two old men, who humorously tease each other and talk about each other's struggles in connection with God. It's a worthy watch for those attracted by the title. Anyone can watch this entertaining movie, you don't just need to be a catholic to watch it!